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As Jose Mourinho arrived at St James' Park and praised Newcastle's coach and his players, home fans feared a tough game. But such worries disappeared thanks to a goal from Anthony Gordon and two more from replacement Harvey Barnes, ensuring the visitors' coach did not inflict pain for Howe's team.

Game Dynamics and Early Exchanges

Mourinho had predicted that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his Benfica players displayed their similar aggressive style. The visitors clearly enjoyed breaking up the Magpies' early attempts to establish a fluent passing rhythm.

Compounding Newcastle's challenges, two midfielders, Tonali and the Brazilian, started as substitutes as they continued convalescing from illness and injury each.

Before kick-off, the coaches exchanged a brief, cool embrace, and it soon became apparent that the Benfica coach had told his team to quiet the crowd by delaying Newcastle and lowering the intensity whenever possible.

Critical Moments and Turning Points

The visitors' strategy produced varied outcomes, but when Gordon and his teammates succeeded to break through the backline, they initially struggled to generate clear chances.

Moreover, the Belgium attacker Lukebakio almost showed scoring skill when, after leaving the defender behind, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a powerful shot that required an excellent single-hand stop. It's no surprise the goalkeeper retains hope for an England recall in time for the World Cup.

But when the winger directed a further attempt off the post, Newcastle woke up. Jacob Murphy shot off target, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent close-range save from Guimaraes before Gordon at last broke the deadlock.

The England winger's scorching pace had caused problems for the Benfica coach all evening, and he neatly side-footed the first goal past Trubin after Murphy's early ball into the box proved effective.

When the Magpies' hard, high press was not anticipated by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was available to deliver a low ball across the goal for Gordon to polish off.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Changes

Right from the start, Benfica could not be blamed of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's side pushed forward with total freedom. The winger consistently displayed an ability to destabilize Newcastle's defense, and the home team were likely relieved to regroup at the break.

The first half ended with the keeper again rescuing his team by diverting Lukebakio's shot around the goal frame, and as the teams came out for the next period, everything seemed evenly balanced.

While Gordon, clearly buoyed by netting his fourth goal in three Champions League appearances this campaign, played with the determination of a winger aiming to shift the power balance in Newcastle's direction, Lukebakio had other plans.

The manager's No 11 had already emphasized that, while Burn is a fine centre-back, he is not a natural full-back, and Newcastle fans were nervous every time Lukebakio moved forward.

Howe might have relaxed had Miley, filling in for Tonali, not directed a corner over the crossbar from a good spot. Instead, this absorbing contest continued to move from one goal to the other, persuading the coach to bring on Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

Mourinho, meanwhile, threw on an additional forward in Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a risk that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Game

Before that, Benfica, and especially their Portugal defender Antonio Silva, had done a good job in restricting Nick Woltemade's space and forcing the Germany centre-forward back. But now, with right-back Amar Dedic off, the defense was weakened, and the path was open for Harvey Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only attacking winger.

The home side's double substitution was already proving effective by the time Pope sent a superb long throw in Barnes's direction. When Antonio Silva, for once, misread the flight, Barnes was away, accelerating into the penalty box before maintaining impressive composure to fire a superb shot past the keeper.

After Barnes rolled a shot through poor the goalkeeper's legs after receiving Gordon's excellent pass, it was finished. The Benfica manager had warned that the Magpies have several quick wide attackers, and three goals from two wide men had shattered his chances of earning Benfica's first European points of the campaign.